Couple Film Noir Street Photography

On a somewhat balmy winter evening, we had the pleasure of mashing our Film Noir photography with night street photography with a very special couple!  When we were asked to create a couple engagement session Film Noir style, we couldn't resist.

We often have the opportunity to work in studio, but this outdoor street photography challenged our inner creative...it also challenged everyone's stamina in the winter cold!  Street photography at night mashed with our Film Noir can produce some of the most magnificent and mysterious shots.  One of the biggest benefits is playing with the light produced by the street lamps, neon signs, car lights  and of course bringing a few strobe lights.  We also brought along some powerful magnetic flash lights that allowed us to place them to metal services to produce a "fake" street light effect.  The result was breathtaking.

This type of winter photography session definitely requires some pre-planning.  Here are a few tips to keep your clients and yourself comfortable:
1.  Have a plan.  It is important you know where you are going to shoot in advance.  Walking in the streets to find locations too shoot can result in lost time and cold clients!
2.  Watch out for your safety.  Sounds silly, but when you are shooting in the downtown streets of Edmonton, the vehicles do not slow down.  We timed our shots to the traffic lights and everyone was positioned from different angles so we could each watch an intersection for on-coming cars.
3.  Dress appropriately.  I will admit the day was nice with the sun up.  As soon as it became dark, it got cool fast.  It is always best to put on several layers and then take off as needed.  A hot beverage and blankets also help to have in between shots.
4.  Tell a story.  No matter the elements, it is important to stay focused and a tell a story.  An engagement shoot must tell a love story between the couple.  This can sometimes be difficult when you are shivering, setting the lighting just right and watching out for cars.  It is important to always keep your clients engaged in the process.  Encourage them to take a break and warm up in the car while you are setting the next lighting.
5.  Stay true to your style.  While living in a modern world, you may think, how can you put a vintage take to a couples street photography session?  Easy, play toward your style.  Research Film Noir images of the Great Hollywood movies.  Have your clients dress in vintage styling.  Mash the modern world with a vintage feel.

Vintage Photography offers couple and engagement photography in either their pin-up or Film Noir styles.  We'd love to turn your story to life in a fun, unique and creative way.  Reach us for more details at info@vintage-photography.ca

Thank you to Charlie and Kiki for giving us the opportunity to create a love story using our Film Noir style.  It is an evening we will never forget!

Vintage Photography announces Like, Share & Win Facebook Contest

Last year on December 20th, we held our very first Pin-Up Photography Session and instantly we fell in love.  We knew that this was our passion.  It was kind of ironic that we had called ourselves Vintage Photography prior to doing Pin-Up and Film Noir photography, but everything seemed to fall into place!  

Our story is likely a lot like many other photographers, we liked photography, we learned it and we dabbled in everything to see what we loved most. Chad originally started photographing cars and old buildings and editing in HDR. I, on the other hand, loved pet photography...probably because I am a fur mommy of two cats. I also learned all types of photography through my Digital Photography Diploma program. We started branching out into taking photographs of our friends and family and quickly learned that we loved the reaction we received from them when we they loved their photographs.  

We then began photographing and learning more about glamour photography and practiced our craft with a very good friend of mine, Cassidy who was starting her modeling career.  We knew we were on to something....but our story gets better...or creepier....

One evening, Chad and I were working in our offices in two separate rooms of the house. We had both been looking at photography online and almost simultaneously we shouted to each other, "hey, what about pin-up photography?"  And so our journey into actual vintage photography was born.  It was kind of a bonus that we had named ourselves that...or a creepy coincedence.  We wanted to adopt a style of editing that paid tribute to the likes of Alberto Vargas and Gil Elvgren. Our pin-up photography is edited with a cartoon painted finish.  It does take us much longer to edit, but we love the result and it is a little more unique in Edmonton.  We expanded our vintage style into Film Noir and Old Hollywood Glamour as well (which was also popular in the 1940s and 50s).

So in honor of reaching our first year anniversary doing what we love, we are holding a Like, Share & Win Facebook Contest for the month of December!  It is our way of giving back and saying thank  you to all of the wonderful people we met this past year.  It has been an absolute dream come true for us to photograph in this style.  

This was the very first photograph we did in our Pin-Up style on December 20, 2015!
Models: Kayla and Cassidy

So what's the contest?

Follow the steps below and you will be entered in a draw to win a pin-up photo shoot with a friend!

Step 1:    LIKE our Facebook page at: Vintage Photography Facebook Page

Step 2:    SHARE this post on your timeline.

Step 3:    TAG a friend deserving of a pin-up makeover and ask them to also LIKE our page.

It's that simple!  You must achieve all three steps in order to be eligible for the draw.  The winner will be announced on January 1, 2017.  If you have already liked our page, proceed to step 2 and 3 to be entered in our draw.  As a bonus, if you haven't followed us on Instagram, find us at @vintagephotgraphyab and follow us there too and you will receive an additional entry in the draw!

Good Luck and Thank You for supporting us and our vintage artistry.

With Love,

Chad & Dre